Drugs/Therapy

'X-Men' Star James McAvoy Donated $62,500 To Teenager For Rare Cancer Treatment

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Feb 06, 2017 09:20 AM EST

James McAvoy has donated $62,500 (£50,000) to a teenager that is battling cancer for treatment in America. The "X-Men" actor visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London last week and met cancer patient Kelly Turner.

The 16-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, desmoplastic round cell tumors in October 2015. She was given only two years to live. The National Health Service (NHS) and ruled out treatment and told her family they could no longer fund further treatment after nine rounds of chemotherapy. NHS also refused to fund surgery abroad.

Kelly's family set up a JustGiving page to raise $1.24 million for her surgery and treatment. This would cover travel costs to America so that she could be treated in New York. Now Kelly and her family are closer to their target after 37-year-old actor, James McAvoy, shared his donation online on Thursday.

"Great to meet you the other day, Kelly. I hope this helps you achieve your goal sooner rather than later. Good luck, luv James," the actor wrote along with the donation on Kelly's fundraising page.

According to Daily Record, Gift Aid added another $15,600 (£12,500) to the donation. Martin Turner, Kelly's father tweeted on Thursday night: "Thank you James McAvoy, you're wonderful."

Martin said he was impressed with James' kind approach when he visited his daughter. James came to visit everyone at the Royal Marsden Hospital and spent time with Kelly and other patients.

Tumors were found close to Kelly's liver and the hospital was not prepared to carry out any surgery. Martin and his wife Linda sought out a fifth opinion from Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. The hospital has agreed to do the surgery, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

According to Belfast Telegraph, Kelly's initial surgery at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York will cost $500,000. Plus follow-up immunotherapy and other treatments, the total bill will be around $1.2 million. Her JustGiving page currently has $562,000.

James was originally from Glasgow and grew up in Drumchapel. Thanks to his donation, Kelly is now closer to getting the surgery she needs.

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